Let's hope time runs out.
http://www.oregonlive.com/oped/index.ssf?/oped/00/04/ed042407.frame
Sign on to gun-check initiative
Backers of a long-overdue change in gun law have only a short time to gather signatures to bring the issue to a vote
Monday, April 24, 2000
Citizens ought to look at the background-check initiative beginning to make the rounds in Oregon as an opportunity to engage in self-defense.
No one else seems to have the courage to close the gun-show loophole that allows convicted criminals, mentally ill people, juveniles and anyone else to buy weapons at gun shows.
Not Congress, which has caved to the National Rifle Association and failed to pass even modest gun restrictions.
Not the Oregon Legislature, where a background-check bill failed by a single vote last year.
And certainly not gun-sellers themselves, who have heaped scorn on Smith & Wesson for agreeing with the government to require background checks on all sales of their guns.
Instead, Oregonians must act to protect themselves by closing the gun-show loophole.
It would be a small but important change in the law. As it stands, the licensed firearms dealers that gather at places such as the Rose City Gun Shows in Portland must run background checks on all buyers. Generally, the instant checks done by the Oregon State Police take only a few minutes.
However, the dozens of unlicensed gun sellers who take part in the gun shows -- euphemistically called "collectors" -- aren't required to conduct background checks. Anybody can buy guns from these people.
And anybody does. Portland police have documented cases of known gang members and other criminals shopping for guns at the Rose City Gun Shows, and looking for those dealers who don't have to do "the paperwork."
This loophole in the law must be tightly closed. Doing so won't infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. It won't limit access to guns from legitimate, legal buyers -- hunters, target shooters, weapons collectors, people wanting handguns for self-defense.
We urge people to sign the petitions being circulated by the Stop Gun Violence Campaign, an all-volunteer effort led by state Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, and sheriffs Dan Noelle of Multnomah County and Robert Kennedy of Jackson County. The group must gather at least 67,000 signatures of registered Oregon voters by July 7.
That's not much time. Thirty legislative candidates have made pledges to help gather signatures. And Portland City Commissioner Jim Francesconi has taken the unusual and commendable step of sending out 70,000 petitions for the measure with his re-election campaign mailer.
When you get the opportunity, sign a petition for the Stop Gun Violence Campaign.
Look at it as self-defense.
-- 30 --
They make the mistake of asking "Agree or disagee? Let us know how you feel about today's Op/Ed in the Oregon Forum."
http://www.oregonlive.com/forums/oregon/
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
http://www.oregonlive.com/oped/index.ssf?/oped/00/04/ed042407.frame
Sign on to gun-check initiative
Backers of a long-overdue change in gun law have only a short time to gather signatures to bring the issue to a vote
Monday, April 24, 2000
Citizens ought to look at the background-check initiative beginning to make the rounds in Oregon as an opportunity to engage in self-defense.
No one else seems to have the courage to close the gun-show loophole that allows convicted criminals, mentally ill people, juveniles and anyone else to buy weapons at gun shows.
Not Congress, which has caved to the National Rifle Association and failed to pass even modest gun restrictions.
Not the Oregon Legislature, where a background-check bill failed by a single vote last year.
And certainly not gun-sellers themselves, who have heaped scorn on Smith & Wesson for agreeing with the government to require background checks on all sales of their guns.
Instead, Oregonians must act to protect themselves by closing the gun-show loophole.
It would be a small but important change in the law. As it stands, the licensed firearms dealers that gather at places such as the Rose City Gun Shows in Portland must run background checks on all buyers. Generally, the instant checks done by the Oregon State Police take only a few minutes.
However, the dozens of unlicensed gun sellers who take part in the gun shows -- euphemistically called "collectors" -- aren't required to conduct background checks. Anybody can buy guns from these people.
And anybody does. Portland police have documented cases of known gang members and other criminals shopping for guns at the Rose City Gun Shows, and looking for those dealers who don't have to do "the paperwork."
This loophole in the law must be tightly closed. Doing so won't infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. It won't limit access to guns from legitimate, legal buyers -- hunters, target shooters, weapons collectors, people wanting handguns for self-defense.
We urge people to sign the petitions being circulated by the Stop Gun Violence Campaign, an all-volunteer effort led by state Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, and sheriffs Dan Noelle of Multnomah County and Robert Kennedy of Jackson County. The group must gather at least 67,000 signatures of registered Oregon voters by July 7.
That's not much time. Thirty legislative candidates have made pledges to help gather signatures. And Portland City Commissioner Jim Francesconi has taken the unusual and commendable step of sending out 70,000 petitions for the measure with his re-election campaign mailer.
When you get the opportunity, sign a petition for the Stop Gun Violence Campaign.
Look at it as self-defense.
-- 30 --
They make the mistake of asking "Agree or disagee? Let us know how you feel about today's Op/Ed in the Oregon Forum."
http://www.oregonlive.com/forums/oregon/
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.